Comparison

How It Works Group vs Mindshift Recovery

Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.

Head to head
About

How It Works Group

This app provides a community platform for individuals seeking recovery from alcoholism. It offers easy access to daily meditations and book studies based on the principles found in the "Big Book" of Alcoholics Anonymous.

Highlights
  • Community support for addiction recovery
  • Daily meditation access
  • Book study resources
  • Based on Alcoholics Anonymous principles
  • Easy-to-use interface
Features
Read full description

The members of the How It Works Group bid you welcome. People struggling with addictions not only harm themselves- they invariably hurt their families, friends, and others. In other words, not only the alcoholic suffers from alcoholism. As members of the How It Works Group, we recognize that we have no monopoly on the treatment of alcoholism. We have, however, found a solution as provided in the book Alcoholics Anonymous, commonly referred to as “The Big Book.” It is there that one may find precise answers to the question, “What do I have to do?” in order to recover. It is there that one may find a way out upon which we can absolutely agree. Our apps purpose is to create and utilize community within our group. Within the app you will find quick and easy access to listen to the Daily Meditations and Book Studies. We invite all who suffer from alcoholism to join us.

About

Mindshift Recovery

This app helps users overcome various addictions and bad habits, including substances, social media, and gambling. It utilizes an evidence-based, neuroscience approach to understand and change habitual behaviors. Features include science-backed lessons, craving management tools, live support, and community connection.

Highlights
  • Science-backed lessons on addiction
  • Craving management and behavior change
  • Daily live Zoom support calls
  • Supportive online community
  • Progress tracking and insights
  • Daily motivation and practical tools
Features
Read full description

Break free from alcohol & substances, food, social media, smoking, porn, gambling, and more. Mindshift Recovery's evidence-based based approach teaches you how to work with your brain rather than trying to control it - and losing. Developed by renowned addiction psychiatrist and neuroscientist Dr. Jud Brewer, our free, clinically-proven method is both easy and effective. KEY FEATURES • Science-backed lessons on why we get addicted in the first place • Step by step process for managing cravings and changing behavior • Daily live Zoom calls to connect, learn, and get help • Supportive online community of people on similar journeys • Progress tracking and personalized insights • Daily motivation and practical tools THE MINDSHIFT METHOD Our unique three-step approach combines cutting-edge neuroscience with proven behavioral techniques to address addiction directly: 1. Map your habitual patterns and understand your mind 2. Discover what truly drives your behaviors (and reduce the shame and stigma you feel about them!) 3. Develop better alternatives that stick Recover yourself — your journey to lasting change starts here. Download now and take the first step toward a healthier, more empowered you. Developed by Mindshift Recovery, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit. Note: This app is not a substitute for professional medical care. If you're experiencing a medical emergency, please call 911 or visit your nearest emergency room.

Screenshots

How It Works Group4 screens
Mindshift Recovery4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is update cadence: Mindshift Recovery at every 4 weeks against How It Works Group's every 13 months. Mindshift Recovery also leads on rating (4.9 vs 4.5) and ratings volume (216 vs 8). How It Works Group's advantage is review sentiment (100% vs 83%) and device support (3 vs 1). On price, ads, in-app purchases and monetization model there is nothing between them.

Scored on Price · Rating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings · Update frequency · Ads · In-app purchases · Monetization · Best chart rank · Devices · Requires iOS

CostPrice · In-app purchases · Ads · Monetization

Both are free to download. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

Mindshift Recovery holds the better App Store score, 4.9 against 4.5. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Mindshift Recovery has 216 ratings behind it against 8, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews complicate that: 100% of How It Works Group's written reviews are positive against 83% of Mindshift Recovery's, so the app with the better star average is not the one people write more warmly about.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

How It Works Group ships an update every 13 months, Mindshift Recovery every 4 weeks. The most recent releases landed on November 2, 2026 and November 4, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard5 real differences · 5 level
How It Works Group versus Mindshift Recovery: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterHow It Works GroupMindshift Recovery
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.5 (8 ratings)4.9 (216 ratings) — better
Positive reviews100.0% of reviews — better83.3% of reviews
Number of ratings8216 — better
Update frequencyEvery 13 monthsEvery 4 weeks — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNoNo
MonetizationFreeFree
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPod — betteriPhone
Requires iOS15.6 — better16.4
Further details — not scored
Size18 MB109 MB
Age rating4+17+
DeveloperApplified Marketing Group, LLCMindshift Recovery

Customer experience

How It Works Group

All ratings7 ratings
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%
Written reviews3 reviews
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%

Mindshift Recovery

All ratings199 ratings
Positive96.5%
Neutral1.5%
Negative2.0%
Written reviews6 reviews
Positive83.3%
Neutral16.7%
Negative0.0%

In-app purchases

None

How It Works Group

No in-app purchases

None

Mindshift Recovery

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is How It Works Group free?
How It Works Group is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Is Mindshift Recovery free?
Mindshift Recovery is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Which has better reviews, How It Works Group or Mindshift Recovery?
Mindshift Recovery is rated higher. How It Works Group averages 4.5 out of 5 from 8 ratings, while Mindshift Recovery averages 4.9 from 216 ratings.
Do How It Works Group or Mindshift Recovery have ads?
Neither How It Works Group nor Mindshift Recovery shows ads.
Which is updated more often, How It Works Group or Mindshift Recovery?
How It Works Group ships an update every 13 months, and Mindshift Recovery every 4 weeks. Most recently, How It Works Group was updated on November 2, 2026 and Mindshift Recovery on November 4, 2026.

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